Body found in Alaska village identified as 13-year-old girl

JUNEAU, Alaska — Alaska State Troopers say the body found in Kake is that of a 13-year-old girl.

The Juneau Empire reports that the girl has been identified as 13-year-old Mackenzie Howard of Kake. Alaska State Trooper spokeswoman Megan Peters says the body was found inside or next to the Memorial Presbyterian Church by an employee just before midnight on Tuesday.

Peters says the cause and manner of death is unknown. But, she says, the small village of Kake, with a population of about 600, saw an influx of people on Tuesday when it hosted a large memorial service.

The body has been sent to the medical examiner in Anchorage for an autopsy.